[eli5] Trying to teach to an autistic child why 4 – (-2) is 4 +2.

Question

Title. I know it goes like that, but as an non mathematician can’t explain it to him.

In: 0

Answer 1

think of the minus sign as meaning opposite.

So 2 normally means two. But -2 is the opposite of 2. So it means to take two away.

If you have 4 – ( – 2) you are doing the opposite of taking away two. The opposite of minusing is adding!